Fully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure
Abstract Tactile sensors play a crucial role in the development of biologically inspired robotic prostheses, particularly in providing tactile feedback. However, existing sensing technology still falls short in terms of sensitivity under high pressure and adaptability to uneven working surfaces. Fur...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Communications Engineering |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-023-00131-x |
| _version_ | 1827710832941727744 |
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| author | Yuyang Wei Bingqian Li Marco Domingos Zhihui Qian Yiming Zhu Lingyun Yan Lei Ren Guowu Wei |
| author_facet | Yuyang Wei Bingqian Li Marco Domingos Zhihui Qian Yiming Zhu Lingyun Yan Lei Ren Guowu Wei |
| author_sort | Yuyang Wei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Tactile sensors play a crucial role in the development of biologically inspired robotic prostheses, particularly in providing tactile feedback. However, existing sensing technology still falls short in terms of sensitivity under high pressure and adaptability to uneven working surfaces. Furthermore, the fabrication of tactile sensors often requires complex and expensive manufacturing processes, limiting their widespread application. Here we develop a conformal tactile sensor with improved sensing performance fabricated using an in-house 3D printing system. Our sensor detects shear stimuli through the integration of an auxetic structure and interlocking features. The design enables an extended sensing range (from 0.1 to 0.26 MPa) and provides sensitivity in both normal and shear directions, with values of 0.63 KPa−1 and 0.92 N−1, respectively. Additionally, the sensor is capable of detecting temperature variations within the range of 40−90 °C. To showcase the feasibility of our approach, we have printed the tactile sensor directly onto the fingertip of an anthropomorphic robotic hand, the proximal femur head, and lumbar vertebra. The results demonstrate the potential for achieving sensorimotor control and temperature sensing in artificial upper limbs, and allowing the monitoring of bone-on-bone load. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:45:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc2c615a854e43c987925415ef9f346a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2731-3395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:45:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc2c615a854e43c987925415ef9f346a2023-11-20T09:34:51ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Engineering2731-33952023-11-012111510.1038/s44172-023-00131-xFully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structureYuyang Wei0Bingqian Li1Marco Domingos2Zhihui Qian3Yiming Zhu4Lingyun Yan5Lei Ren6Guowu Wei7Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of ManchesterKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin UniversityDepartment of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of ManchesterKey Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin UniversityDepartment of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of ManchesterDepartment of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of ManchesterDepartment of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, The University of ManchesterSchool of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of SalfordAbstract Tactile sensors play a crucial role in the development of biologically inspired robotic prostheses, particularly in providing tactile feedback. However, existing sensing technology still falls short in terms of sensitivity under high pressure and adaptability to uneven working surfaces. Furthermore, the fabrication of tactile sensors often requires complex and expensive manufacturing processes, limiting their widespread application. Here we develop a conformal tactile sensor with improved sensing performance fabricated using an in-house 3D printing system. Our sensor detects shear stimuli through the integration of an auxetic structure and interlocking features. The design enables an extended sensing range (from 0.1 to 0.26 MPa) and provides sensitivity in both normal and shear directions, with values of 0.63 KPa−1 and 0.92 N−1, respectively. Additionally, the sensor is capable of detecting temperature variations within the range of 40−90 °C. To showcase the feasibility of our approach, we have printed the tactile sensor directly onto the fingertip of an anthropomorphic robotic hand, the proximal femur head, and lumbar vertebra. The results demonstrate the potential for achieving sensorimotor control and temperature sensing in artificial upper limbs, and allowing the monitoring of bone-on-bone load.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-023-00131-x |
| spellingShingle | Yuyang Wei Bingqian Li Marco Domingos Zhihui Qian Yiming Zhu Lingyun Yan Lei Ren Guowu Wei Fully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure Communications Engineering |
| title | Fully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure |
| title_full | Fully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure |
| title_fullStr | Fully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure |
| title_short | Fully 3D printed flexible, conformal and multi-directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure |
| title_sort | fully 3d printed flexible conformal and multi directional tactile sensor with integrated biomimetic and auxetic structure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-023-00131-x |
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